Vibrator



Nov. 1.9, 1940o N. A. NELSON I 2,222,422

vIBRA'ToR Filed Dec. 19, 1939 Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATESVIBRATOR Nels A. Nelson, Chicago., Ill., assigner to Raymond T. Moloney,Chicago, Ill.

Application December 19, 1939, Serial No. 309,989

5 Claims.

The invention relates to a vibrator of the type having a platform uponwhich a person stands to receive a vibratory treatment. Moreparticularly the invention relates to new and improved means for causingthe platform to be vibrated so that a rapid shaking motion is properlytransmitted to the person standing thereon.

The improved vibrator includes a housing for' the operating mechanismwhich in practice is preferably coin released, the vibrating platformhaving an exposed position outside the housing and conveniently placedto enable a person to step thereonto for treatment.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved vibrator forthe purposes stated.

Another object is to provide such a vibrator of unusually compactconstruction whereby a minimum of space will be occupied thereby. v

Still another object is to provide a novel, compact and foolproof powerdrive mechanism for rapidly vibrating the platform in the most effectivemanner.

Other important objects will no doubt become apparent to those versed inthis art as the disclosure is more fully made. v

Briefly, the new vibrator embodies a base carrying a yieldably supportedhorizontal platform upon which a person is to stand. Said plat-,

form is associated with a suitable upright housing, the platform havingrigidly connected to it, a bracket which extends into the housing, whereit carries a bearing to journal a vertical shaft. Fast on this shaft isa disk or wheel carrying an eccentric or off-center weight. The shaftmentioned is flexibly connected to the shaft of an electric motorrigidly supported on the inside of the housing. When the motor operatesthe shaft and weighted wheel rotate very rapidly so that through thebracket a vigorous vibratory movement is imparted to the platform andthe person standing thereon.

In the drawing, showing a practicable embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through the vibrator, takenalong the line I-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the vibrator structure;and

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section.

The improved vibrator embodies a suitable hase I0, including anappropriate, upright housn ries suitable rubber blocks I2 to supportyieldably, a suitable substantially horizontal platform I3, one end ofwhich is formed with a vertical ange i4. v

Adjacent said flange I4, the wall of the -hous ing i I is provided withan opening I5 and bolted securely and rigidly to said ange by bolts iii,is a bracket El. This bracket is passed into the housing II through theopening I5. The bracket also passes through an opening I3 formed in thelower end of a vertical wall or standard portion formed in the housingII, as shown.

Inside the housing II the bracket Il is horizontally disposed as shown,and carries a re-l movably positioned ball bearing 2i! of any suitablekind to support and journal a vertical shaft 2i. This shaft has securedto it, by a set screw 22V a horizontal wheel or disk 23 provided with aneccentric or off-center weight 24. This disk is positioned immediatelyabove the bracket il. The shaft ZI extends above the disk 23 and isflexibly and drivingly connected by a rubber sleeve coupling 25 to thevertical shaft 26 of an electric motor 2 rigidly `secured within thehousing II by bolts 28 to the wall or support I9, as shown. The motor issupported independently of the bracket Il. The base III is open as at229 to give easy access to the interior parts described withinvthehousing II.

In use it will be understood that the motor 2l is connected to a usualsource of commercial electric current and that the starting switchtherefor may be operated by a conventional coin released means. Oncestarted the motor can, in practice, be timed to run for any desiredperiod of time.

In operation, a person desiring vibratory treatment stands on theplatform I3. When the motor 2l is started the shaft 2I is rapidly drivenat motor speed through the flexible cou- 40 pling 25 from the motorshaft 26. As a result the disk 23 is rapidly rotated at the same highspeed. The off-center weight 24 sets up a rapid vibratory motion whichthrough the shaft part 2| is directly communicated to the bracket I'Iand platform I3 in an obvious manner. The rubber block supports I2, ofcourse, permit said platform I3 so Vto vibrate. Because of the verticalaxis of the shaft 2l it is found that a lateral vibration predominatesin the platformv I3 which is desirable as it is not so easilytransmitted upwardly through the spine of the person treated. 'I'hetreatment is especially useful in relieving tired, aching feet.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications of theexample shown for purposes of the disclosure Which do not in materialrespects constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In la vibrator, a horizontal base, an upright housing at one endthereof, a yieldably supported platform carried at the other end of thebase outside the housing, a bracket rigidly secured to the platform andextending into the housing through an opening formed therein, an uprightshaft journaled on the bracket within the housing, an electric motorhaving a shaft, meansI rigidly supporting the motor above the bracketwithin the housing and in-` dependently of the bracket, means flexiblyconnecting the two shafts, and a disk secured to y the first shaft andprovided with an off-center upright shaft journaled n the bracket withinthe housing, an electric motor having a shaft, means rigidly supportingthe motor above the bracket within the housing and independently of thebracket, a flexible coupling drivingly connecting the two shafts, anoff-center Weighted member secured to the first shaft whereby rotationof the shafts by the motor imparts vi- `bratory movement to the platformthrough the l bracket, said base formed with an opening to make thedrive parts within the housing accessible.

3. In a vibrator, a horizontal base, an upright housing positioned atone end thereof, a yieldably supported platform carried at the other endof the base outside the housing, said platform having a rigid extensionbracket portion protruding through an opening in the housing and intothe housing, an electric motor positioned rigidly in the housing on avertical axis and independent of the bracket portion, said motor havinga vertical shaft, a vertical shaft journaled on the bracket portion,means flexibly and drivingly coupling said shafts, and an offcenterweight means rotatable with the shaft carried by the bracket portionwhereby when the motor is operated a preponderantly lateral vibr'atorymotion will be transmitted to the platform.

4. In a vibrator, a horizontal base, an upright housing positioned atone end thereof, a yieldably supported platform carried at the other endof the base outside the housing, said platform having a rigid extensionbracket portion protruding through an opening in the housing and intothe housing, an electric motor positioned rigidly in the housing on avertical axis and independent of the bracket portion, said motor havinga vertical ,shaftand eccentric means supported by Said bracket portionand drivingly and flexibly connected to the motor shaft to transmit apreponderantly lateral vibratory motion to the platform'when the motoroperates.

5. Inv a vibrator, a horizontal base, a substantially horizontalplatform yieldably mount,

ed thereon, an electric motor, a support on the base including means forrigidly mounting the motor in a raised position above the base with itsmotor shaft extending vertically downwardly,

said platform having ank extension bracket portion extendingsubstantially horizontally below the motor shaft, a shaft journaled inthe bracket portion in substantial coaxial alinement with the motorshaft, a drive coupling fleidbly connecting the two shafts, and aneccentric weight member made fast on the second shaft.

NELS A. NELSON.

